Death, and the Afterlife.

I have been thinking about Death lately. Please don't misunderstand me and think that I am suicidal. I am not. As a person fascinated in ghosts, and the afterlife, Death is there right on the horizon. We can't escape it, it will come soon enough. So what's next? We die and then what? Religions tell us that we will either go to a Heavenly place in the sky or to hell, a fiery pit down below. In some sects of Buddhism, we don't really die, the flame of our self keeps going into new bodies as in Reincarnation.

As a ghost hunter, that is one of my goals is to learn about this Death, and where it will take us. A search for an afterlife. Do we just keep on going in a spiritual body, on with our lives watching and protecting our families who are still living. Or do we just move on into the oblivion or merge the God or Goddess head. From all the Obake Ghost stories I have been reading, seems like some of us will be stuck here walking along side by side with the living, instead of moving on.

Another idea I have been thinking about, when ever a person dies a new one is born at that brief moment. Those who have no unfinished business, will just come back to an earthly existence in a brief flash. Sometimes I think that just happens to keep the earth well balanced with continuing life. We die and are reborn again and again. Those who decide to stop this existence have already learned as much as they can about Life.

Here is a quote from the Buddhist Three Treasures,

"Hard is it to be born into human life. Now we are living it. Difficult is it to hear the teaching of the blessed one. Now we hear it. If we do not enlighten ourselves in the present life, no hope is there that we shall be freed from suffering and sorrow in the ocean of birth and death. Let us reverently take guidance from the Three Treasures of the Truth."

When you think about Death, you have to think about Life too. They both go hand in hand. Some how I wonder if life is so much pain and suffering, why would anyone in their right mind decide to stay and haunt a place. What's the reason holding them here? Why don't they move on or cross over? Take some time in your daily life and think about Death, its not as Taboo as it used to be. Its sung about in songs, made into art and is in our daily lives. When you do this, you will seem to understand what it means to Live a long and fulfilled life.

Have you seen people who are diagnosed with Cancer, or another life threatening illness have changed their outlook at life. They start to really live a fulfilling life and are no longer afraid of death. That is how we should live our every day lives. Live like its your last day on earth. Just live. Ok this is it for todays blog. See you next time.

Little Tokyo History Booklet Project

A friend and I are working on a small book on the history of Little Tokyo, with info on the shops and restaurants of Little Tokyo, stating a little bit of the history of the shops. It will probably be a pocket size book, catered to the New people moving into the Little Tokyo condos. A guide book of the Little Tokyo we know. You are probably thinking what experience do I have to write a book on the history of Little Tokyo? I have been a part of Little Tokyo since I was 16.

I was one of the first Volunteers of the Japanese American National Museum, when the museum didn't exist as a museum yet. Back when their office was on 3rd and Traction in the Arts District near Little Tokyo. Been a volunteer in the old Nishi Honganji Building when JANM first opened. I worked in the Legacy Center on the Camp Computer, helping people who were interned look for their files, I was also a photographer working with Norman Sugimoto and the other staff of the museum. I seemed to have been closer to the staff of JANM then to the volunteers. I have experience helping set up and take down exhibits, Museum store experience too. More like a Jack of all trades. I was also a part of the Outreach committee, worked at a few JANM events away from the museum.

My other experiences in Little Tokyo include, being a Volunteer for A3M, being on the staff of AISAREMA/Disorient, A member and Brief President of the local APAN-JACL chapter, Helped out at JACCC and was also a member of Zenshuji Buddhist Temple and their Zazenkai for a year.
I have always been interested in the history of Little Tokyo...so from all that I have posted, there should be no problem with me writing a book on the History of Little Tokyo. we hope that we wont have a problem with the Little Tokyo Historical Society, Until recently I never heard of their group. Seems like they are hiding in the shadows of Little Tokyo. Why is it so hard to find info on their organization, or a email address? Who knows.

I know there is a need for Historical books on Los Angele's Little Tokyo, they are pretty scarce, there is one book that Visual Communications had published but unfortunatly its out of print. Have you ever walked into a bookstore looking for a book on the History of Little Tokyo, well I have and always ended up coming out empty handed and upset. I will be starting a group on facebook to start recruiting people for our own organization. If anyone want to help out with our book project please comment on this blog, or email me on facebook. Til next time, stay safe and cool.

Changes to this blog

You may have noticed that I took out Ghost Hunting from the what this blog is about. I have made a seperate blog for my ghost hunting adventures. I will keep the google adds for now, I know its wrong to have Japanese dating sites advertised on the blog, I have no choice and I wished I could filter those out...

Imagined Futures Conference at JANM and Updates

Went to JANM today for the Imagined Futures Conference, Phuong and I were part of the Blog and New Media workshop. There were lots of information about how to start blogs, what to blog about and networking with other bloggers. Two new blogs I will keep up with will be Angry Asian Man and 8asians.com...I will make a JL & Associates Paranormal Investigations Blog later tonight, since I now know that people are interested in a blog about our investigations.

It was nice seeing old friends at JANM today, keynote speeches by Eric Nakamura and Mr. Sulu himself George Takei. There was a great dance performance by the UCLA NSU Modern dance troop, they were wonderful, made me really tired watching them.

Other updates, I got a package in the mail last week from Arcadia Publishing, with guidelines for the Images of America Little Tokyo book, my friend Steve and I are writing. Our main goals now are gathering pictures from the community for the book and sending in our book proposal. This is my first time writing a book and working with a publisher to get published. Hopefully any money I make with this book can be used for my Paranormal group. We are kind of writing two books, the Images of America, Little Tokyo and Ghosts of Little Tokyo a seperate book on True Ghost stories on Los Angeles's Little Tokyo.

Coming soon, will be a seperate blog on and about my paranormal group..stay tuned...